tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16991283087388224062016-09-29T03:50:57.604-04:00Keeping Up With The KizziahsTake a peek into the world of two newlyweds trying to figure it all out...Taylor Kizziahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03291207529744025316noreply@blogger.comBlogger86125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1699128308738822406.post-80173047305579985102012-04-15T23:51:00.001-04:002012-04-16T04:22:21.352-04:00Welcome to the world Walt...umm 6 months ago! It's true, the first 6 months of motherhood have officially kicked my blogging butt (my real one too)! This results in what is sure to earn me the "mom of the year award" for neglecting to document the first half year of my precious son's life. Apart from an exorbitant amount of pictures and a notarized birth certificate, there is no written record of the past 6 months of Walt's life. So I will attempt to sum up in a few (or a lot) of words the incredible life changes that we have experienced since October 14th, 2011. (side note- do any other new moms forget their child's birthday?!? There is still something so unnatural about reciting that date at the excessive amount of pediatrician appointments I have attended)<br /><br /> Let's start with the obvious miracle of our son. After 29 hours of labor (that story is for another day/post), our little man, Walters James Kizziah, made his grand entrance into this world...and it was love at first sight!! All the cliche mommyisims about "not understanding blah blah until you become a parent" are actually true...as difficult of a pill that is for me to swallow. I never could have prepared for the overwhelming life change that would occur that day and every day since, (though goodness knows I tried) but I am convinced to my core that we serve a miraculous God that uses each middle of the night feeding, each yellow rain shower flowing from the oh-so-unfamiliar boy regions, each projectile vomit, and each sweet smile to draw us closer to himself and teach us humility and selflessness in an unparalleled way. <br /><br />Walters, in his few short months in this world, has brought me more joy and more gratitude than I ever thought possible to experience this side of Heaven! We love you "doodle bug" and I am so honored to be your mommy!!<br /> <br /> It's amazing how all my hopes and dreams have shifted from myself to my little guy. There aren't words to describe the love I feel for that sweet little boy sleeping soundly (for now) across the house. And I stand in awe of our great big God who loves each of us infinitely more than I could ever love Walters. <br /><br /> I also must mention that my amazing hubby is now a proud employee of CSX railroad. He started his new position in January and it has been a whirlwind. He is working in a position that requires him to be gone Monday-Thursday EVERY week :( We are adjusting daily to what has proven to be a gut wrenching transition for our new family. As difficult as it has been and is for us, I am thrilled that Adam is loving what he is doing and is, for the first time in quite a while, energetic and optimistic about the future and his career. I would welcome advice from anyone whose husband travels a lot on how to keep it all together as a semi-single parent during the week. I am so far from the "have it all together" exterior I often show (hence the lack of blogging for half the year), so we would appreciate any prayers as we navigate this new season of our lives. <br /><br /> On a happier note, we decided I would be staying home with Walters!! Well mostly...I am teaching for our county's virtual school which allows me to contribute a little bit to our income while still being able to be home with our baby. This has been a dream of mine for a very long time. One I didn't believe would ever be a possibility for me. But God has given me the desire of my heart even though it came in unexpected ways with Adam's new career path. <br /><br />I would be lying if I told you I was 100% thrilled with the stay at home mom lifestyle all the time...it has been a big transition for me and my VERY type-A personality. I live in a constant state of second guessing the every day parenting decisions from sleeping to eating to shots and wardrobe (remember this whole boy thing is quite new for me) which leaves me part exhausted an part insecure. Which, combined with sleep deprivation, doesn't always result in the best version of Taylor. Needless to say this is a huge departure from the feeling of commanding a classroom full of students and feeling 100% confident in my abilities I have been quite the awful friend and wife some days as a result, and there has been more than 1 occasion where I was totally convinced I was going to screw him up in some way :( <br /><br />I can say without a doubt though that I can't imagine my life any other way. I can't imagine missing his first smile or his morning snuggles. His new skill of laughing or his ridiculous tummy troubles. The first time he rolled over and even the dreaded teething have added infinite joy to my life. I never even knew how selfish I was before spending my days 100% consumed with a 16 pound miniature human. And even though there are days I long for adult interaction that involves normal pitched conversations, or to be able to get in the car and go without adding an extra 30-45 minutes to the getting ready process, I feel so blessed to watch and nurture my son as he grows into the man God has created him to be. Ask me on a good day...I love being home with Walt!! <br /><br /> Oh and finally we have put our house on the market in hopes of moving Adam closer to an airport because of his travel schedule. We are not exactly sure where that will lead us, but we would be quite appreciative of any prayers in this tough housing market! <br /><br /> So you have now officially "kept up with the Kizziahs" in a whirlwind blog post which I am confidant was a tangled stream of consciousness and may or may not have been coherent in any way. I promise to finally post pictures of Walt's finished nursery, update you all on his stats more often, and just be a little (i cant promise a miracle) more regular in the blogging department. <br />Love,<br />Taylor<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-ZbPH26ez_uI/T4ug4aQg9qI/AAAAAAAAAV8/om2dMVX4LOM/s640/blogger-image-976152278.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-ZbPH26ez_uI/T4ug4aQg9qI/AAAAAAAAAV8/om2dMVX4LOM/s640/blogger-image-976152278.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-0AleAZk7shw/T4uhB5jNXrI/AAAAAAAAAWE/c_t8GDqw6Xk/s640/blogger-image--972990046.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-0AleAZk7shw/T4uhB5jNXrI/AAAAAAAAAWE/c_t8GDqw6Xk/s640/blogger-image--972990046.jpg" /></a></div>Taylor Kizziahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03291207529744025316noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1699128308738822406.post-42135393098352880702011-10-12T15:36:00.000-04:002011-10-12T15:36:41.626-04:00We're Ready For You Baby Walters!!&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <span style="font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;,sans-serif;">Well today is the big day!! We are headed to the hospital in about an hour to begin the induction process. The doctors assure me that he is both big enough and mature enough to enter the world in the next 24-48 hours...so here goes nothing!! My next post will probably take me a while, and I promise to be sharing all the nursery details as soon as possible. </span><br /><br /><div style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: &quot;Helvetica Neue&quot;,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><i>Baby Walters:</i></div><div style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: &quot;Helvetica Neue&quot;,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: &quot;Helvetica Neue&quot;,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><i>We have been praying for your safe arrival for many months now, and pretty soon we will go from a family of 2 to a family of 3.&nbsp; I have never been so proud to complete any "job" more than carrying you safely for the past 9 months. Your daddy and I can't wait to meet you and know you. We already love you so much, that it's hard to imagine how much more joy and love we will feel in just few short hours. You are so worth all the not-so-fun pregnancy stuff, little man. Your daddy and I are ready for you to turn our world upside down!!&nbsp;</i></div><div style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: &quot;Helvetica Neue&quot;,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: &quot;Helvetica Neue&quot;,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><i>Love your Mommy and Daddy!!&nbsp;</i></div><div style="font-family: &quot;Helvetica Neue&quot;,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: &quot;Helvetica Neue&quot;,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;,sans-serif;">And here's one more look at you inside mamma's belly...</span><i> </i></div><div style="font-family: &quot;Helvetica Neue&quot;,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jKS-mVdFqX4/TpXrCuOOD8I/AAAAAAAAAVc/0ygZDmySQCw/s1600/IMG_0568.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jKS-mVdFqX4/TpXrCuOOD8I/AAAAAAAAAVc/0ygZDmySQCw/s400/IMG_0568.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">36 Weeks</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="font-family: &quot;Helvetica Neue&quot;,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6CVOZkXM50k/TpXrccGXd7I/AAAAAAAAAVk/E0PJiqAhNNU/s1600/IMG_0569.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6CVOZkXM50k/TpXrccGXd7I/AAAAAAAAAVk/E0PJiqAhNNU/s400/IMG_0569.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">37 Weeks</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="font-family: &quot;Helvetica Neue&quot;,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></div><i><a href="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/51/59F4962EC7438ED56CF19A036A8D8275.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: &quot;Helvetica Neue&quot;,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/51/59F4962EC7438ED56CF19A036A8D8275.png" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent; border: 0pt none ! important;" /></a></i>Taylor Kizziahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03291207529744025316noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1699128308738822406.post-59575089880798800102011-10-05T10:02:00.000-04:002011-10-05T10:02:56.541-04:00Pregnancy Update: 36 Weeks<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span>I wish I could say this has been a normal past few weeks and I have just been too tired/busy to blog, but unfortunately things haven't gone as planned. I have been diagnosed with mild preeclampsia, excess fluid around the baby, and placed on modified bed rest for the past 3 weeks. As of right now, my condition is stable, and baby Walters is responding wonderfully to all of his biophysical profile tests...but still all a little bit scary. I have been admitted as an out patient work-up 3 times at this point and am having to go to the doctor 2x a week for ultrasounds, blood pressure testing, and urine analysis. They have scheduled an induction for next Wednesday, October 12th at 37 weeks pregnant. I am, of course, uneasy about the whole process, as I would love for him to come when he is ready, but I am trusting the doctors and trusting that God has a plan in all of this.&nbsp;</span></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">With all that being said, here is the preggo update thus far!! </span></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>&nbsp;</b></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><b>How Far Along: </b>I'm&nbsp;36 weeks along </span></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><br /></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><b>Due Date: </b><strike>November 2nd, 2011</strike> Turns out baby Walters will be joining the world on October 12th or 13th!!</span></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><br /></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><b>Size of Baby:</b> Baby Walt is almost 6 pounds and about 18 inches long. We should find out more details tomorrow. </span></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><br /></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><b>Maternity Clothes: </b>I've been placed on bed rest for the past 3 weeks, so I basically live in night gowns and pj pants, but maternity clothes are definitely the way to go out in public. </span></span></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span><br />&nbsp;</span></span> <div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><b>Gender: </b>It's a boy!! He is DEFINITELY still a boy. I get to see him twice a week via ultrasound now, and he is never shy about showing his boy parts!!</span></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><br /></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><b>Movement:</b> He is a full on alien in the belly these days. He kicks and wiggles incessantly, so much so that he "runs" from the doppler machine which tries to locate his heart beat. I have learned to love this feeling since it lets me know he is alive and well. </span></span></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span></span><span><br />&nbsp;</span></span> <div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><b>Sleep:</b> Well, when I actually do sleep, it's pretty deep slumber thanks to the wonderful invention of a pregnancy wedge pillow..like wake up in a coma kind of sleep. I have been told by a certain someone that I have developed a little snore these last few days, but I deny it to the death!! </span></span></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span></span><span><br />&nbsp;</span></span> <div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><b>What I miss:</b> I miss having a "normal" pregnancy. It's amazing what you take for granted before things go wrong. I used to get annoyed having to go in for an appointment that lasted 5 minutes and they said everything is fine after I had waited an hour...but now I long for those days. </span></span></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span></span><span><br />&nbsp;</span></span> <div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><b>Cravings:</b> Cinnamon flavored things...toast, rolls, candy, etc. </span></span></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span></span><span><br />&nbsp;</span></span> <div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><b>Symptoms:</b> </span><span>still having carple tunnel, elevated blood pressure, ginormous legs due to swelling and increased fluid, and a general inability to use my stomach muscles at all. I hope they still exist after all of this :) </span></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span>&nbsp;</span></span></div><div style="border: medium none; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><b>Best moment:</b> </span><span>getting to attend my twin sister's wedding this past weekend!! Even though I looked like a giant blueberry. Isn't she beautiful...</span></span></div><div style="border: medium none; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span>&nbsp;</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jcP8F_ywc_g/ToxjR1_onJI/AAAAAAAAAVY/GRKIUti_auY/s1600/309618_156560614437326_100002501653669_283058_1541629556_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jcP8F_ywc_g/ToxjR1_onJI/AAAAAAAAAVY/GRKIUti_auY/s640/309618_156560614437326_100002501653669_283058_1541629556_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="border: medium none; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span>&nbsp;The wonderful Abbey Lindsay of Dylan Blue Photography (also my wedding photographer) captured the big day. We can't wait to see more photos!!</span></span></div><div style="border: medium none; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><br /></span></span></div><div style="border: medium none; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/51/59F4962EC7438ED56CF19A036A8D8275.png" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent; border: 0pt none ! important;" /></a><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></div>Taylor Kizziahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03291207529744025316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1699128308738822406.post-26108197463440317472011-09-06T21:43:00.001-04:002011-09-06T21:44:20.156-04:00Pregnancy Update: 31 Weeks<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I'm officially in countdown stage which is code for miserable stage.&nbsp; 31 weeks pregnant + a 26th, I'm officially closer to 30 than 20 birthday = not such a happy mama..but here goes nothing:</span></span></b></span><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">&nbsp;</span></span> </b></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>How Far Along: </b>I'm&nbsp;31 weeks along (about&nbsp;7 months)</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Due Date: </b>November 2nd, 2011</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Size of Baby:</b> Baby Kizziah is about 16 inces long and he weights about 3.3 pound now,&nbsp;and he now has eye lashes on eyes he can blink. He is adding to his (and mama's) baby fat every day...just not in the cheeks please ;)</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Maternity Clothes: </b>I'm back to teaching, so living in dresses that are still not too scandalous to wear to work. Unfortunately we aren't allowed to wear sleeveless tops/dresses which has resulted in my portable becoming Antarctic during the day. Poor kiddos...nah, they'll survive. </span></div><span style="font-size: small;"><br />&nbsp;</span><br /><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Gender: </b>It's a boy!!</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Movement:</b> Still going strong in the kicking department! He has gotten the hiccups several times which is quite strange to feel (and may or may not have resulted in a frantic call to my OB insisting that something must be wrong with my child). </span></div><span style="font-size: small;"></span><span style="font-size: small;"><br />&nbsp;</span><br /><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Sleep:</b> What's sleep?!? It's not all that terrible...I can even sometimes make it&nbsp;2 WHOLE hours without having to get up!! Finding a comfortable position has become the biggest challenge, and I am still finding that I wake up on my belly...a miracle to my OB. </span></div><span style="font-size: small;"></span><span style="font-size: small;"><br />&nbsp;</span><br /><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>What I miss:</b> being able to stand for long periods of time without elephantitis sinking in on my ankles, aka. effective teaching. I have already begun the teaching from my desk business and I have certainly used the fat, waddling, pregnant lady card on my students multiple times. I also, unfortunately have developed carpal tunnel in my right hand, making typing, writing, and teaching in general a little bit painful. </span></div><span style="font-size: small;"></span><span style="font-size: small;"><br />&nbsp;</span><br /><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Cravings:</b> Orange juice!! I can't seem to get enough of it...maybe I need some vitamin c?</span></div><span style="font-size: small;"></span><span style="font-size: small;"><br />&nbsp;</span><br /><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Symptoms:</b> </span><span style="font-size: small;">miserably swollen legs and ankles, full-on waddle walk, an always present need to clarify that I am indeed pregnant and not just fat to all my oh-so-politically correct high school students. </span></div><div style="border: medium none; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Best moment:</b> </span><span style="font-size: small;">the reaction of my students when I showed them Walt's ultrasound picture on my "Welcome to Mrs. Kizziah's Class" powerpoint. Priceless!! See below for examples...</span></div><div style="border: medium none; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"></div><div style="border: medium none; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">"Holy crap what is that?"</span></div><div style="border: medium none; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">"Eww...why are you showing us that?"</span></div><div style="border: medium none; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">"I'm just not sure that's normal for us to be seeing!"</span></div><div style="border: medium none; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">"I feel like we're violating you somehow!!"&nbsp;</span></div><div style="border: medium none; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div style="border: medium none; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Oh how I love high school!!!</span></div><div style="border: medium none; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div style="border: medium none; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">And here is the latest edition of the growing belly. It's certainly getting large and in charge, and I am beginning to dread these weekly photos more and more. All for memories sake I guess/ motivation to hit the gym post-delivery...</span></div><div style="border: medium none; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SCwhV_p5Buw/TmbMEIDA4qI/AAAAAAAAAVU/3As7PAqhXUU/s1600/IMG_0492.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SCwhV_p5Buw/TmbMEIDA4qI/AAAAAAAAAVU/3As7PAqhXUU/s400/IMG_0492.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div style="border: medium none; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div style="border: medium none; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"></div><div style="border: medium none; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"></div><div style="border: medium none; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/51/59F4962EC7438ED56CF19A036A8D8275.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/51/59F4962EC7438ED56CF19A036A8D8275.png" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent; border: 0pt none;" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">&nbsp;</span></div><div style="border: medium none; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"></div>Taylor Kizziahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03291207529744025316noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1699128308738822406.post-73736906178331295302011-08-23T20:49:00.000-04:002011-08-23T20:49:38.130-04:00Blogiversary!!<div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Today marks one calendar year of blogging here on Keeping Up With The Kizziahs!! I have really enjoyed having an a place to share my thoughts on life, projects, and general ramblings of my oh-so-amusing life as a teacher. Thank you for all your wonderful comments and for reading this here old blog...you make a girl feel good :)&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">In honor of the momentous occasion have I decided to re-cap the amazing year this blog has captured! Here's to another fantabulous year of blogging!!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">{1} I survived a major eye <a href="http://keepingupwiththekizziahs.blogspot.com/2010/08/as-i-write-this-i-have-officially-been.html">infection</a> and near blindness...okay I exaggerate...a little.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">{2} Recorded the Amazing and entertaining lives of our adorable pooches <span style="font-size: x-small;">(<a href="http://keepingupwiththekizziahs.blogspot.com/2010/08/background-noise.html">here</a>, <a href="http://keepingupwiththekizziahs.blogspot.com/2010/11/shes-got-look.html">here</a>, <a href="http://keepingupwiththekizziahs.blogspot.com/2011/03/our-new-addition.html">here</a>, <a href="http://keepingupwiththekizziahs.blogspot.com/2011/03/meet-max.html">here</a>, and <a href="http://keepingupwiththekizziahs.blogspot.com/2011/07/no-more-baths.html">here</a>)&nbsp;</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">{3} Shared my favorite You Tube videos <span style="font-size: x-small;">(see YouTube Tuesday)</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">{4} Learned all about Florida's unique <a href="http://keepingupwiththekizziahs.blogspot.com/2010/09/holy-road-kill.html">insect</a> <a href="http://keepingupwiththekizziahs.blogspot.com/2010/09/im-alive-dont-let-love-bugs-bite.html">population</a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">{5} Began the massive task of turning a house into a home through various projects from headboards, to lamps, to new tiles in the kitchen <span style="font-size: x-small;">(see Home renovation and decor)</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">{6} Decorated our casa for all the holiday seasons <span style="font-size: x-small;">(<a href="http://keepingupwiththekizziahs.blogspot.com/2010/09/fall-ish.html">fall</a>, <a href="http://keepingupwiththekizziahs.blogspot.com/2010/10/its-boo-tiful-wednesday.html">Halloween</a> <a href="http://keepingupwiththekizziahs.blogspot.com/2010/11/trick-or-treat.html">X2</a>, &amp; <a href="http://keepingupwiththekizziahs.blogspot.com/2010/12/its-beggining-to-look-lot-like.html">Christmas</a>)</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">{7} Attempted my first furniture redo's <span style="font-size: x-small;">(a <a href="http://keepingupwiththekizziahs.blogspot.com/2010/10/sew-whata-ya-think.html">sewing table</a>, and a <a href="http://keepingupwiththekizziahs.blogspot.com/2010/10/just-another-manic-monday.html">night stand</a>)</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">{8} Shared with the blogging world all the <strike>non-English</strike> hilarious sayings of my husband <span style="font-size: x-small;">(That's What He Said Label)</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">{9} Celebrated one year of wedded bliss to my favorite man!!</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">{10} Announced and tracked my first pregnancy with our little boy, Walters!&nbsp;</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Whew!! Seems like A-Lot happened this year!! Can't wait to see what next year holds when our family of 2 becomes a family of 3 :) Thanks for reading yall!!</span></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/51/59F4962EC7438ED56CF19A036A8D8275.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/51/59F4962EC7438ED56CF19A036A8D8275.png" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent; border: 0pt none ! important;" /></a>Taylor Kizziahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03291207529744025316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1699128308738822406.post-66716310445007557562011-08-05T21:28:00.000-04:002011-08-05T21:28:09.257-04:00Walters in 3D!!!<div style="font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;,sans-serif; text-align: center;">Today was one of the most exciting days of pregnancy thus far...our 3D/4D ultrasound!! We went to an amazing place called <a href="http://www.discoveryultrasound.com/">Discovery Ultrasound</a> in Jacksonville. Allison, the owner and technician, was wonderful and I would HIGHLY recommend it to anyone! My mom and grandmother were even able to watch live from their computers at home. </div><div style="font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;,sans-serif; text-align: center;">I was first of all simply amazed at modern technology, and also beyond excited to have a glimpse at what our son will look like in a few months. Not to mention the fact that it was super exciting to have a mental picture of him in my mind in a non-alien form. Makes those side-splitting kicks worth while for sure!! We think he is just perfect and we can't wait to meet him more than ever!</div><div style="font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;,sans-serif; text-align: center;">Here's what we found out about our little man today...</div><div style="font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;,sans-serif; text-align: center;">{1} He is in a head-down position!! His feet are up under my right rib cage and head down and to the left.&nbsp;</div><div style="font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;,sans-serif; text-align: center;">{2} He is no doubt Adam's child! Take a look at the face below...all his daddy! Especially those cheeks!!&nbsp; Kind of unfair considering I'm doing all the work here people!</div><div style="font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;,sans-serif; text-align: center;">{3} He has a really strong heart beat...168 beats per minute!</div><div style="font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;,sans-serif; text-align: center;">{4} He's still a boy...once again no shyness from Walt!!</div><div style="font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;,sans-serif; text-align: center;">{5} He stays awake, ALOT!! The technician was amazed at how much he kept his eyes open. Hard to tell in the pictures below, but the little black slits on his eyes are actually them open.&nbsp;</div><div style="font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;,sans-serif; text-align: center;">And here are some of the best shot of the day...</div><div style="font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;,sans-serif; text-align: center;"> </div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1FAMQkC8h8Q/TjyW4T0UQVI/AAAAAAAAAVE/ryygTMG_B7s/s1600/KIZZIAH_11.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1FAMQkC8h8Q/TjyW4T0UQVI/AAAAAAAAAVE/ryygTMG_B7s/s640/KIZZIAH_11.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;,sans-serif; font-size: small;">Here he is yawning!!</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vCTxSVd-IKw/TjyW5DGuBjI/AAAAAAAAAVI/TtZyNxupY9c/s1600/KIZZIAH_12.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vCTxSVd-IKw/TjyW5DGuBjI/AAAAAAAAAVI/TtZyNxupY9c/s640/KIZZIAH_12.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;,sans-serif; font-size: small;">Look at those cheeks...just like Daddy!</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-d2uXVhy9tNw/TjyW6NJ36ZI/AAAAAAAAAVM/atslMauJQE8/s1600/KIZZIAH_13.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-d2uXVhy9tNw/TjyW6NJ36ZI/AAAAAAAAAVM/atslMauJQE8/s640/KIZZIAH_13.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr style="font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;,sans-serif;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Here is a front shot of his chest/sternum. He's still a little scrawny (except for the cheeks), but we're hoping he'll get a little meat on his bones in the next 3 months!</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;,sans-serif;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xtK7h6mnRQ8/TjyW60mH16I/AAAAAAAAAVQ/dI3_fkCL_Dg/s1600/KIZZIAH_14.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xtK7h6mnRQ8/TjyW60mH16I/AAAAAAAAAVQ/dI3_fkCL_Dg/s640/KIZZIAH_14.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;,sans-serif; font-size: small;">Sweet little sleepy face :) </span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;<span style="font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;,sans-serif; font-size: small;">We can't wait to meet you baby Walters!! Your mommy and daddy love you very much!!</span></div><a href="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/51/59F4962EC7438ED56CF19A036A8D8275.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/51/59F4962EC7438ED56CF19A036A8D8275.png" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent; border: 0pt none ! important;" /></a>Taylor Kizziahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03291207529744025316noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1699128308738822406.post-89935067253410836202011-08-04T14:56:00.000-04:002011-08-04T14:56:56.700-04:00A gift for my Sissy...<div style="border: medium none; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;,sans-serif;">Recently my baby sister, who by the way is definitely not a baby any more&nbsp;which makes me&nbsp;feel sad and old, &nbsp;sent me a picture of a necklace she liked to get my opinion. So I thought I would suprise her while she was out of town and replicate it for her for half the price :) See what ya think...</span></div><div style="border: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border: medium none; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #bf9000; font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;,sans-serif; font-size: large;">The Original...</span></div><div style="border: medium none;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Kq50425D2rA/TjhQo7VigTI/AAAAAAAAAUw/LqyLPz-6n8c/s1600/IMG_1557.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="334" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Kq50425D2rA/TjhQo7VigTI/AAAAAAAAAUw/LqyLPz-6n8c/s640/IMG_1557.jpg" t$="true" width="640" /></a></div><div style="border: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border: medium none; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #bf9000; font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;,sans-serif; font-size: large;">My Replica...</span></div><div style="border: medium none; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6GiYGZvwDPs/TjhRCMfp7dI/AAAAAAAAAU4/tJEQ3LQE9-Q/s1600/Unnamed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6GiYGZvwDPs/TjhRCMfp7dI/AAAAAAAAAU4/tJEQ3LQE9-Q/s640/Unnamed.jpg" t$="true" width="476" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9p0s3SSYdUg/TjhRAgjK0uI/AAAAAAAAAU0/jML-AUwcJnY/s1600/IMG00075-20110721-0941.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9p0s3SSYdUg/TjhRAgjK0uI/AAAAAAAAAU0/jML-AUwcJnY/s640/IMG00075-20110721-0941.jpg" t$="true" width="640" /></a></div><div style="border: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border: medium none;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c2Smhec3pzs/TjhRC7fz2TI/AAAAAAAAAU8/Ks46y2NJclQ/s1600/Unnamed1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c2Smhec3pzs/TjhRC7fz2TI/AAAAAAAAAU8/Ks46y2NJclQ/s640/Unnamed1.jpg" t$="true" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #bf9000; font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;,sans-serif; font-size: large;">Cost Break-Down:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;,sans-serif;">Fabric for Rosettes (1/4 yard).............................................$1.50</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;,sans-serif;">Chain for Necklace (still plenty left for more creations) ..............$4.00</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;,sans-serif;">Clasps for necklace (pack of 90 pieces)...................................$4.00</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;,sans-serif;">Buttons for embellishment..................................................$5.00</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;,sans-serif;">Hot Glue gun + glue sticks...................................................free; already had</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #bf9000; font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;,sans-serif;">Total ...........................................................................$14.50 </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;,sans-serif;">Not too shabby, especially considering I still have enough supplies to make a minimum of 5 more necklaces. All I would need are more embellishments! I pretty much love how it turned out!</span></div><span style="font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;,sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;,sans-serif;">Hope you LOVE it Annie Bananie!!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0TJKQOD4L0c/TjrrNqTMA5I/AAAAAAAAAVA/5QMzfa9aqHM/s1600/IMG_4576.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0TJKQOD4L0c/TjrrNqTMA5I/AAAAAAAAAVA/5QMzfa9aqHM/s640/IMG_4576.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">P<span style="font-size: small;">.S. We need to remedy the fact that this is the only "recent" picture I have of you, and it's been over a year since this was taken :( </span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="border: medium none;"><a href="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/51/59F4962EC7438ED56CF19A036A8D8275.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/51/59F4962EC7438ED56CF19A036A8D8275.png" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent; border: 0px none;" /></a></div><div style="border: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border: medium none; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Taylor Kizziahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03291207529744025316noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1699128308738822406.post-67981993777837729852011-08-03T20:10:00.000-04:002011-08-03T20:10:48.865-04:00The big kitchen reveal...<div style="font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;,sans-serif; text-align: center;">As I mentioned a few posts ago, our new favorite color, comfort gray, ended up elsewhere in our house. It made its big splash in our kitchen. Here is the before shot of our "cookie cutter" kitchen...</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Bi4w0KTHjS4/Ti8Z9NUbT_I/AAAAAAAAAT4/DtjLM8aSw7g/s1600/IMG_0443.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480px" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Bi4w0KTHjS4/Ti8Z9NUbT_I/AAAAAAAAAT4/DtjLM8aSw7g/s640/IMG_0443.JPG" width="640px" /></a></td></tr><tr style="font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;,sans-serif;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Please excuse all the clutter...we were in full project mode at this point!!</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;,sans-serif; text-align: center;">&nbsp;And here is the cabinet alcove with comfort gray paint...</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BcNGNETM5FI/Ti8aXOt0SGI/AAAAAAAAAT8/U2ht496B0w4/s1600/IMG_0447_2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238px" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BcNGNETM5FI/Ti8aXOt0SGI/AAAAAAAAAT8/U2ht496B0w4/s640/IMG_0447_2.JPG" width="640px" /></a></div><br /><div style="font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;,sans-serif; text-align: center;">See how the color looks even different than it did in Walt's room? It is really <i>such</i> a versatile color. We decided to only paint the alcove around the cabinets to highlight the dark wood, and to avoid having to paint the entire kitchen, dining room, and hallway that are all connected. But we didn't stop there!! We decided to put up a tile back splash between the cabinets and the counter top! I found the tiles on clearance at home depot for only $4.00 per square foot!! Great deal!! Here's dad and I trying to figure out the placement (quite the tedious, and sometimes jimmy-rigged application).</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OoiY_1OBA_I/Ti9rmGwQ4SI/AAAAAAAAAUE/7EkNLpSnt2A/s1600/IMG_0447.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480px" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OoiY_1OBA_I/Ti9rmGwQ4SI/AAAAAAAAAUE/7EkNLpSnt2A/s640/IMG_0447.JPG" width="640px" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;,sans-serif;">My grandmother then beautifully decorated the tops of my cabinets, something I simply am not capable of doing. So, big thank you Mema!! And we finished grouting the tiles for this big reveal...</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Gft70rQbNZY/TjB2P46pTbI/AAAAAAAAAUg/SuruvGYjVw4/s1600/IMG_0482.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480px" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Gft70rQbNZY/TjB2P46pTbI/AAAAAAAAAUg/SuruvGYjVw4/s640/IMG_0482.JPG" width="640px" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WcmYOjtaDtw/TjB2iaaE5BI/AAAAAAAAAUk/RsL_-ju0kT8/s1600/IMG_0483.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480px" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WcmYOjtaDtw/TjB2iaaE5BI/AAAAAAAAAUk/RsL_-ju0kT8/s640/IMG_0483.JPG" width="640px" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Mplq0yKk8Ec/TjB3AsXit3I/AAAAAAAAAUo/8UPUaEB-nX4/s1600/IMG_0485.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480px" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Mplq0yKk8Ec/TjB3AsXit3I/AAAAAAAAAUo/8UPUaEB-nX4/s640/IMG_0485.JPG" width="640px" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><div style="font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;,sans-serif;">I think it looks A-mazing! I am so happy that it looks more like a custom kitchen and addresses all of my original complaints: too dark in the kitchen, ugly brown cabinets that blend into the wall color, and lack of anything special.</div><div style="font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;,sans-serif;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;,sans-serif;">Buuuuuuttttt....we didn't stop there. Can we say OCD? I just can't stop until I have completed all the projects I have running through my head (as if I don't have an entire nursery to finish?!?). Remember these cabinets...</div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-72RSGai5Sis/Ti9vzXpA4BI/AAAAAAAAAUI/o-voFzvwzIo/s1600/IMG_0443.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480px" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-72RSGai5Sis/Ti9vzXpA4BI/AAAAAAAAAUI/o-voFzvwzIo/s640/IMG_0443.JPG" width="640px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><div style="font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;,sans-serif;">Well here's what they look like now....</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_iB_pjO5fOI/TjCHjx0xXLI/AAAAAAAAAUs/zMxR5u_xzmE/s1600/IMG_0486.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640px" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_iB_pjO5fOI/TjCHjx0xXLI/AAAAAAAAAUs/zMxR5u_xzmE/s640/IMG_0486.JPG" width="480px" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><div style="font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;,sans-serif;">So much better don't ya think? I have always loved exposed shelves, but never thought they were all that practical. One set of cabinets on the other hand...very doable. I am still contemplating painting the inside or doing some sort of pattern back there, but for now I am leaving them plain to see how I feel about them as time passes.&nbsp;</div></div><div style="font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;,sans-serif; text-align: center;">And for all those inquiring minds, here is the price break down for the whole kitchen redo...</div><br /><div style="font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;,sans-serif;">Paint for Alcove............already purchased for Walters' room</div><div style="font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;,sans-serif;">Tile...........................$56.00</div><div style="font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;,sans-serif;">Adhesive.....................$10.00</div><div style="font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;,sans-serif;">Grout.........................$10.00</div><div style="font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;,sans-serif;">Glass Cabinet Inserts.......$40.00</div><div style="font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;,sans-serif;">Decorations..................went shopping in my house, so free</div><div style="font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;,sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;">Grand Total..................$126.00</span> (Not too shabby!!)</div><span id="goog_155098936"></span><span id="goog_155098937"></span><br /><br /><a href="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/51/59F4962EC7438ED56CF19A036A8D8275.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/51/59F4962EC7438ED56CF19A036A8D8275.png" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent; border: 0pt none;" /></a>Taylor Kizziahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03291207529744025316noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1699128308738822406.post-52978426507180759612011-08-02T09:18:00.000-04:002011-08-02T09:18:04.159-04:00Project Nursery {Part One}<div style="text-align: center;">Let the fun begin!! We are finally implementing the <a href="http://keepingupwiththekizziahs.blogspot.com/2011/07/nursery-design-plan.html">design plan</a> for Walt's nursery, starting with the paint and bedding. We decided on Sherwin Williams Comfort Gray for the walls. The pictures don't really do the color justice. It's a beautiful shade of green/gray/blue and changes color in the light. It definitely reads boyish without screaming "I'm a baby boy!!" I absolutely love the color choice and feel really lucky that we picked it, as it actually ended up elsewhere in the house....more details to come :)<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ei2qxqMiAL4/TjB0-A-fRbI/AAAAAAAAAUU/3yByfDEM84I/s1600/IMG_0456.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ei2qxqMiAL4/TjB0-A-fRbI/AAAAAAAAAUU/3yByfDEM84I/s640/IMG_0456.JPG" width="480" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The bedding actually looks great with the color too!! And though I am certain that the plush fabric of the bumpers will not be the absolute easiest with regards to clean-ability, I really love the soft feel and comfort it will bring to our little man.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZfsRmoI5sXc/TjB0xX9OckI/AAAAAAAAAUQ/bYwrs_mAAlI/s1600/IMG_0454.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZfsRmoI5sXc/TjB0xX9OckI/AAAAAAAAAUQ/bYwrs_mAAlI/s640/IMG_0454.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Uugxwx-yYdg/TjB1O_zJJ6I/AAAAAAAAAUY/AeeHSg2k1JI/s1600/IMG_0457.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Uugxwx-yYdg/TjB1O_zJJ6I/AAAAAAAAAUY/AeeHSg2k1JI/s640/IMG_0457.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jVcH5B_rGnA/TjB1dqvvSxI/AAAAAAAAAUc/PVGBHIiYYnU/s1600/IMG_0458.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jVcH5B_rGnA/TjB1dqvvSxI/AAAAAAAAAUc/PVGBHIiYYnU/s640/IMG_0458.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br />A huge thanks to my dad for coming all the way to Green Cove Springs, Florida to paint for us!! The hubs is not a fan of painting, and my preggo belly + paint fumes don't really mix...so it was a HUGE help! Thanks dad!! We love all the stuff you did!!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8h5ZN8HZO3M/Ti8YiQ7gz0I/AAAAAAAAAT0/CKkK1UkOgyQ/s1600/IMG_0449.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8h5ZN8HZO3M/Ti8YiQ7gz0I/AAAAAAAAAT0/CKkK1UkOgyQ/s640/IMG_0449.JPG" width="640" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">So there you have it...part one complete. Many, Many more projects to come. Up next, the window treatments...stay tuned!!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/51/59F4962EC7438ED56CF19A036A8D8275.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/51/59F4962EC7438ED56CF19A036A8D8275.png" style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; border-bottom: 0pt; border-left: 0pt; border-right: 0pt; border-top: 0pt;" /></a>Taylor Kizziahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03291207529744025316noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1699128308738822406.post-26403115647699337512011-07-27T16:23:00.002-04:002011-07-27T16:24:50.692-04:00Pregnancy Update - 26 Weeks<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Here's the next installment of pregnancy updates for those of you keeping up with this belly-growing journey...</span><br /><br /><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>How Far Along: </b>I'm 26 weeks along (about&nbsp;6 months)</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Due Date: </b>November 2nd, 2011</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Size of Baby:</b> Baby Kizziah is about the length of a Cucumber, or 14 inches. He weights about 1 3/4&nbsp;pound now,&nbsp;and has fully developed ears. Supposedly he will recognize Adam and my voice when he is born. His boy parts are "developing too!"</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Maternity Clothes: </b>Definitely more comfortable in maternity clothes. Living in dresses and skirts these days. I am beginning to worry about the appropriateness of some of my wardrobe for work though :) It's all either too low on the growing chest, or too short due to the baby bump!!</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span><span style="font-size: small;"><br />&nbsp;</span><br /><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Gender: </b>It's a boy!!</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Movement:</b> He is kicking hard and seems to be totally spread out from right on top of my bladder to the very top of my rib cage. I actually saw my shirt move for the first time the other day. The "alien in my belly syndrome" has officially begun. </span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span><span style="font-size: small;"><br />&nbsp;</span><br /><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Sleep:</b> Sleep is definitely a challenge when you have to use the restroom every 2 hours, on the dot! Still no major complaints, though I do wish he would get his kicks out during the daytime...doesn't he know mama needs her beauty rest?</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span><span style="font-size: small;"><br />&nbsp;</span><br /><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>What I miss:</b> the use of ab muscles. Watching me get up from lying position is beyond hysterical. It's like they just disappeared all together. </span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span><span style="font-size: small;"><br />&nbsp;</span><br /><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Cravings:</b> Nothing too much these days, just super thirsty. I still don't love eating dinner...sporadic nausea at night time. </span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span><span style="font-size: small;"><br />&nbsp;</span><br /><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Symptoms: </b>Definitely feeling achy and moving slower. I am having pretty intense sciatic nerve pain in both hips which is quite debilitating at times. Also a little bit of ankle swelling after long days of standing. Bring on the cankles when I go back to work. </span></div><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span><br /><div style="border: medium none; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Best moment:</b> Reaching the crucial "25 week mark" where Walters could technically be born at any moment and live!! Sounds crazy to think about, but very relieving at the same time. </span></div><div style="border: medium none; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"></div><div style="border: medium none; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">Here's a growing belly shot for ya...</span></div><div style="border: medium none; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XdOxvAgTIFY/TjBzsSNGlXI/AAAAAAAAAUM/VoZAxxnVmIY/s1600/IMG_0489.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XdOxvAgTIFY/TjBzsSNGlXI/AAAAAAAAAUM/VoZAxxnVmIY/s640/IMG_0489.JPG" width="480" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="border: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/51/59F4962EC7438ED56CF19A036A8D8275.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/51/59F4962EC7438ED56CF19A036A8D8275.png" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent; border: 0px none;" /></a></div></div></div></div></div></div>Taylor Kizziahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03291207529744025316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1699128308738822406.post-77401777032829291832011-07-26T15:26:00.000-04:002011-07-26T15:26:12.575-04:00Down on the Farm...<div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;Recently Adam and I had the opportunity to make a 1st birthday cake for our adorable neighbor, Jacob. How can you resist this face...</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-M3NMc5dAJRo/Ti8NvAPB1tI/AAAAAAAAATY/wPBmDuDd3gE/s1600/IMG_0422.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-M3NMc5dAJRo/Ti8NvAPB1tI/AAAAAAAAATY/wPBmDuDd3gE/s640/IMG_0422.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">I promise this is not some form of child abuse...he actually LOVES to get inside of Max's cage and play!!</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;">Jacob's grandparents are potato and corn farmers, not to mention the fact that I have a John Deere-lovin husband, so naturally we decided on a farm theme cake. After a trip to Michael's, Winn-dixie, and an attic dive to find the <i>perfect</i> combine from the hub's tractor stash, here's what we ended up with...</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-44jwNefdjJ0/Ti8O54Squ8I/AAAAAAAAATc/z5Ff9MwUJh4/s1600/IMG_0425.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-44jwNefdjJ0/Ti8O54Squ8I/AAAAAAAAATc/z5Ff9MwUJh4/s640/IMG_0425.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">We went with my famous chocolate cake cupcakes for kid-friendly grabbing, and I must confess we used store bought frosting to save some time. Each corn stalk was made from popsicle sticks that we painted green on a piece of Styrofoam. Then <strike>we</strike> Adam individually tied 2 pieces of green ribbon on each "stalk" and curled the edges to look like the corn leaves. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jwtz_BRogQU/Ti8QEYHi_II/AAAAAAAAATg/WdAjUHWW4Zs/s1600/IMG_0424.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jwtz_BRogQU/Ti8QEYHi_II/AAAAAAAAATg/WdAjUHWW4Zs/s640/IMG_0424.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;Needless to say, this took quite a while. Adam was a dedicated farmer for sure...</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OFkIzXNCs_E/Ti8QqHmbDfI/AAAAAAAAATk/vfK140vM6F0/s1600/IMG_0423.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OFkIzXNCs_E/Ti8QqHmbDfI/AAAAAAAAATk/vfK140vM6F0/s640/IMG_0423.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Even sporting the Wells family farm shirt!! He so wishes he could be a real-life farmer!!</span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;">We then arranged all of the cupcakes in a rectangle shape and added our "dirt" icing. The hubs carefully placed the combine in the corner, then individually lined up each corn stalk to match the blades. Finally I added the Happy Birthday writing (the most imperfect part of the cake) and individually piped "corn" frosting on each stalk.&nbsp;</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Vhd1K5k1ovQ/Ti8SbdMxd9I/AAAAAAAAATo/A41pv_v2o4M/s1600/IMG_0426.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Vhd1K5k1ovQ/Ti8SbdMxd9I/AAAAAAAAATo/A41pv_v2o4M/s640/IMG_0426.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Let me just say, this was a VERY precise cake that had to be "just right" to present to the family. I mean, I hate to see what Walt's cakes will look like when this was for a 1 year old that isn't even our own :)&nbsp; Ha ha!! It was lots of fun though, and kept the hubs occupied for hours.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RAkD-ViHsSo/Ti8TIrTx3aI/AAAAAAAAATs/CJP7Y62Xtsg/s1600/IMG_0427.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RAkD-ViHsSo/Ti8TIrTx3aI/AAAAAAAAATs/CJP7Y62Xtsg/s640/IMG_0427.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ESfPmrztK6Q/Ti8TofX7GEI/AAAAAAAAATw/_KIDG70EOs0/s1600/IMG_0428.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ESfPmrztK6Q/Ti8TofX7GEI/AAAAAAAAATw/_KIDG70EOs0/s640/IMG_0428.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><a href="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/51/59F4962EC7438ED56CF19A036A8D8275.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/51/59F4962EC7438ED56CF19A036A8D8275.png" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent; border: 0pt none ! important;" /></a>Taylor Kizziahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03291207529744025316noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1699128308738822406.post-90229949593876211402011-07-17T21:06:00.000-04:002011-07-17T21:06:20.247-04:00No more baths!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Here's a picture account of Max's first bath. No words really needed...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QUn8T8iTQUk/ThtzSd8QG4I/AAAAAAAAASg/jYXjS2-2e2w/s400/IMG_0382.JPG" width="400" /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jd5gAachamc/ThtztAQ5ykI/AAAAAAAAASk/Wz25v9Of2nM/s1600/IMG_0383.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jd5gAachamc/ThtztAQ5ykI/AAAAAAAAASk/Wz25v9Of2nM/s400/IMG_0383.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wKqHcfZbOio/Tht0H7lODhI/AAAAAAAAASo/F46lUaofDcY/s1600/IMG_0384.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wKqHcfZbOio/Tht0H7lODhI/AAAAAAAAASo/F46lUaofDcY/s400/IMG_0384.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VDH8VaR7Dek/Tht0grD9ZmI/AAAAAAAAASs/mMRILsfLyKw/s1600/IMG_0385.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VDH8VaR7Dek/Tht0grD9ZmI/AAAAAAAAASs/mMRILsfLyKw/s400/IMG_0385.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-j_lQrTwICLo/Tht06i-zvlI/AAAAAAAAASw/ICueDXxfrAI/s1600/IMG_0386.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-j_lQrTwICLo/Tht06i-zvlI/AAAAAAAAASw/ICueDXxfrAI/s400/IMG_0386.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-otS9Fv5MdYw/Tht1RzfwszI/AAAAAAAAAS0/xReTOOFJ1ZQ/s1600/IMG_0387.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-otS9Fv5MdYw/Tht1RzfwszI/AAAAAAAAAS0/xReTOOFJ1ZQ/s400/IMG_0387.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6mMSjKe46so/Tht1gzm2o9I/AAAAAAAAAS4/YcSCXMo3b7I/s1600/IMG_0388.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6mMSjKe46so/Tht1gzm2o9I/AAAAAAAAAS4/YcSCXMo3b7I/s400/IMG_0388.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">How traumatic!!</span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">**On a sad side-note...My thoughts and prayers go out to my good friend Britt who just lost her precious puppy, <a href="http://millersinthemidwest.blogspot.com/2011/05/picking-peaches.html">Peaches</a> due to a horrible dog attack. They are devastated and my heart breaks for them. Please keep her and her family in your prayers as they cope with the loss of their baby. Sure does make me realize just how much my pups are like my first children and just how devastating it would be to lose them, even when they drive me crazy**</div><a href="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/51/59F4962EC7438ED56CF19A036A8D8275.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/51/59F4962EC7438ED56CF19A036A8D8275.png" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent; border: 0pt none ! important;" /></a>Taylor Kizziahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03291207529744025316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1699128308738822406.post-15325351183297080522011-07-11T17:07:00.000-04:002011-07-11T17:07:23.902-04:00Rome wasn't built in a day...<div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;But Walt's crib sure was. Well actually in one night, with one screw driver, one admiring wife, one super excited cousin, 2 annoying pups,&nbsp; and one set of&nbsp; working hands :) I heard horror stories about the crib building process; how long it takes, how complicated they are, how hard to maneuver, etc. However, <strike>we</strike> Adam had no trouble at all and it was completed in a matter of hours.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Putting up the crib for some reason really made this whole pregnancy sink in. Even more than the ever-growing baby bump, strange appetite, and my ability to cry at the sight of a Pamper's commercial. We can't wait for baby Walt to get here and have a built-by-daddy crib to sleep in :) Here is our new <a href="http://www.diapers.com/p/DaVinci-Emily-4-in-1-Convertible-Crib-Ebony-8399?site=CI&amp;cm_mmc=cse-_-googlebase-_-nursery-_-DV-005&amp;ci_src=14110944&amp;ci_sku=DV-005">crib</a> with the proud hubs. It turned out to be really nice, and I am very happy with the choice even having bought it sight unseen. Diapers.com is such a great sight...they offer free shipping, and it arrived in 2 days!!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ciFOwNPfoDE/Thtfw_C_ooI/AAAAAAAAASU/cd9X1VTgn00/s1600/IMG_0434.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ciFOwNPfoDE/Thtfw_C_ooI/AAAAAAAAASU/cd9X1VTgn00/s400/IMG_0434.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;Notice there is a little "practice" nestled snug in the new bed...</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-d4hPpD2aHJI/ThtiOJp4VXI/AAAAAAAAASY/L1B1ZSf2XsY/s1600/IMG_04332.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-d4hPpD2aHJI/ThtiOJp4VXI/AAAAAAAAASY/L1B1ZSf2XsY/s400/IMG_04332.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;That's Maggie! And she belongs to this adorable little helper who is more excited about baby Walt's arrival than any other family member! Love you Porgie!! Thanks for helping with the nursery!!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0gIJlgUc8pM/ThtkbOEhiNI/AAAAAAAAASc/OgoSyAtFnUY/s1600/IMG_0429.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0gIJlgUc8pM/ThtkbOEhiNI/AAAAAAAAASc/OgoSyAtFnUY/s400/IMG_0429.JPG" width="278" /></a></div><br /><a href="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/51/59F4962EC7438ED56CF19A036A8D8275.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/51/59F4962EC7438ED56CF19A036A8D8275.png" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent; border: 0pt none ! important;" /></a>Taylor Kizziahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03291207529744025316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1699128308738822406.post-32193582864893636122011-07-08T12:56:00.000-04:002011-07-08T12:56:56.477-04:00A Nursery Design Plan...<div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;Unlike my typical haphazard, see if this looks alright style, I decided it might be nice to have an actual plan for baby Walt's room. I definitely wanted a room that "fit" with the rest of our house while still being a nursery. I also DID NOT want a theme. No offense to any of you teddy bear, Dora the Explorer, John Deere loving people out there (uh hum...Adam), but I just can't get on board with choosing an entire obsession for my child before I have even met him. The other issue I came across was that everything, and I mean EVERYTHING for boys is baby blue. Don't get me wrong, I love the color, and even think it is adorable for a boy nursery...it just doesn't go with our design style at all. I think secretly because I have a more "gender neutral-I don't want to re-do this room for baby #2 one day" mentality as well.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">So here's what I came up with in the form of&nbsp; "mood board" to help me stay on track. Please excuse my oh-so-amateur computer skills...I only have Microsoft Word to work with:) All the details are listed below in case you are interested.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vuEL3sGszKE/ThPI-X1XYrI/AAAAAAAAASM/_nI2O88wuMU/s1600/Picture+1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="370" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vuEL3sGszKE/ThPI-X1XYrI/AAAAAAAAASM/_nI2O88wuMU/s640/Picture+1.png" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />{1} The <a href="http://www.diapers.com/p/DaVinci-Emily-4-in-1-Convertible-Crib-Ebony-8399?site=CI&amp;cm_mmc=cse-_-googlebase-_-nursery-_-DV-005&amp;ci_src=14110944&amp;ci_sku=DV-005">"Emily Crib" by Davinci</a> in Espresso brown. I ordered it from diapers.com. It is a 4 in 1 convertible bed which will eventually convert from crib, to toddler bed with rail, to bed without rail, to full size head board and foot board.&nbsp; Plus there is free shipping from this website, so you can't beat that.<br /><br />{2} The wall color: Sherwin Williams "Comfort Gray." It's sort of a greenish gray that changes colors in different light. It's the color match to Restoration Hardware's "Silver Sage" which matches our bedding. So excited that my dad is coming this weekend to help paint the room for this paint fume avoiding/lazy mamma. <br /><br />{3- 5} Accent Colors: Sherwin Williams "Over Joy" (yellow), "Quench Blue," and "French Roast." Not your typical color combination, but I just love it together.<br /><br />{6} Restoration Hardware "Cuddle Plush" crib <a href="http://www.rhbabyandchild.com/catalog/category/products.jsp?link=CuddlePlushAndContrastDotBoysAnd%252339%253BNurseryBedding&amp;categoryId=rhbc_cat199069">bedding</a> in Silver Sage. I love the soft velveteen texture of the bumpers and the simple crib skirt. I recently just found nearly the identical bedding from <a href="http://www.target.com/Luxe-Green-Baby-Bedding-Collection/dp/B004F1PLJU/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&amp;searchView=grid3&amp;keywords=luxe%20baby%20bedding&amp;fromGsearch=true&amp;sr=1-2&amp;qid=1309920068&amp;rh=&amp;searchRank=target104545&amp;id=Luxe%20Green%20Baby%20Bedding%20Collection&amp;node=1038576%7C1287991011&amp;searchSize=30&amp;searchPage=1&amp;searchNodeID=1038576%7C1287991011&amp;searchBinNameList=subjectbin%2Cprice%2Ctarget_com_primary_color-bin%2Ctarget_com_size-bin%2Ctarget_com_brand-bin&amp;frombrowse=0">Target </a>as well. <br /><br />{7} Newco Serenity Classic Non-Swivel <a href="http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3902404&amp;fromRegistryNumber=47075965&amp;product_skn=407016">Glider</a> from Babies-R-Us in chocolate brown. This is on the registry wish list. It is so comfortable and cute, but I am still looking for a Craig's List alternative in case no loving family member decides to purchase this for us.<br /><br />{8} White dresser/Changing table. I bought an old antique off of Craig's List and will be re-finishing it with a gloss white paint for wipe-ability. It's not this exact picture, but very similar. Our room isn't big enough for a dresser and changing table, so this will double as both with the addition of a changing pad. <br /><br />{9} Accent Pillow <a href="http://hawthornethreads.com/fabric/designer/michael_miller_house_designer/retro_mod/bicycles_in_haze">Fabric</a>: "Bicycles" in Haze by Michael Miller ordered from one of my favorite fabric stores, Hawthorne Threads. I will be attempting to make my first pillows with this adorable fabric. <br /><br />{10} Curtain Fabric: "Peeps Pearl Bracelet" in brown by Lizzy House, ordered from <a href="http://hawthornethreads.com/home">Hawthorne Threads</a> again. It's really nice and thick and will be great for creating a dark sleeping environment for baby Walt. <br /><br />{11} DIY artwork: I'll be painting a verse for Walt's from Micah 6:8 on some old Pallet boards for a rustic look. We'll see how it turns out!! <br /><br />So what do you all think? Am I totally designed challenged? Wait...don't answer that. Some of it's a done deal already!!<br /><br /><a href="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/51/59F4962EC7438ED56CF19A036A8D8275.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/51/59F4962EC7438ED56CF19A036A8D8275.png" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent; border: 0pt none ! important;" /></a>Taylor Kizziahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03291207529744025316noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1699128308738822406.post-80080584868924393792011-07-06T18:04:00.000-04:002011-07-06T18:04:59.113-04:00The Name Game...<div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;After finding out that our baby is officially a B.O.Y., Adam and I decided that it was probably a good idea to start referring to him as something other than Nugget! Bringing us to the naming game. The whole process has been more than overwhelming to me and the hubs, and I never quite understood just how difficult it is to pick a name that you and your child will love For-EVER!! I hadn't let myself get attached to a name before finding out the sex of our baby, for fear I would get attached to one name, only to not be able to use it, so we definitely felt like we were starting from square one at 18 weeks.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We had a few naming requirements going in...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">{1} No calling him by his middle name- both Adam and I are called by our middle names, and it has caused lots of paper work problems, not to mention the ever embarrassing first day of class where the teacher calls out "Daniel" or "Frances"</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">{2} His name had to sound good with Kizziah- not an easy task to say the least. I am slightly relieved that he is not a girl because I have yet to put a girl first name with our last name that doesn't sound slightly inappropriate (as in street walker, etc. Go ahead- try it? Carly Kizziah anyone?)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">{3} His initials couldn't spell a word or sound crazy - we ran into a few cases of ELK, WAK, BIK...you get the point.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">{4} It couldn't be the name of any of my past students, our exes, obnoxious people in our pasts - this is quite difficult when you are a teacher having taught approximately 200 + students in the past 3 years. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">So after a few weeks of debate, we finally revealed <i>the</i> name for our little boy...<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">Walters James Kizziah</span></i><span style="font-size: large;">&nbsp;</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">We went the traditional southern route, using a family name. We will call him Walt, and I just love the older more traditional name. Walters is my grandparent's last name and James is my grandfather's first name (affectionately known as "Big Jim"). We definitely wanted to honor one of the most important men in my life by naming the first boy in the <i>entire</i> family after him. He will have BIG shoes to fill as my Papa is one of the most generous, intelligent, fair, and steady men I have ever known. We shared the news with him on Father's Day, and we are so thrilled to have chosen the name for our little boy. I love you Papa...thanks for all you have done for me and my sisters, and for instilling in me so many important lessons that have helped shape me into who I am today. I am honored to name our little boy after you!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rsxHUpOx9Ho/ThPDwPqrK6I/AAAAAAAAASE/wqM4EAcKSDI/s1600/IMG_0761.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rsxHUpOx9Ho/ThPDwPqrK6I/AAAAAAAAASE/wqM4EAcKSDI/s400/IMG_0761.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me and Papa! </td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-u_gbIZIjhHk/ThPD3yJERBI/AAAAAAAAASI/G9HlFqJpzTQ/s1600/holland+and+christmas+%252705+088.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-u_gbIZIjhHk/ThPD3yJERBI/AAAAAAAAASI/G9HlFqJpzTQ/s400/holland+and+christmas+%252705+088.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grandmother and Papa</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">We can't wait to meet you, Walt! It really is true that once you know the sex of the baby and have decided on a name, you can really start to bond with him. I can picture taking him to t-ball games, being a soccer mom, and having my melt down the first time he brings some creepy crawly into my house.&nbsp; I can also now address him personally as he kicks the crap out of me :) Gotta start early with the parenting...ha ha!!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/51/59F4962EC7438ED56CF19A036A8D8275.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/51/59F4962EC7438ED56CF19A036A8D8275.png" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent; border: 0pt none ! important;" /></a></div>Taylor Kizziahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03291207529744025316noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1699128308738822406.post-38551039483440739862011-07-05T18:04:00.000-04:002011-07-05T18:04:03.543-04:00We're Growing...<div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;It seems the baby bump has officially exploded!! It is large and in charge these days. Here are a few belly pics for those curious folks out there. **Warning** This could be scary for some of you (including me)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">15 Weeks...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mjgCn8Oo4UM/ThOF22wO34I/AAAAAAAAARw/kDbmXS06QeI/s1600/IMG_0403.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mjgCn8Oo4UM/ThOF22wO34I/AAAAAAAAARw/kDbmXS06QeI/s400/IMG_0403.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">&nbsp; </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">19 Weeks...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JnljlpuvdKs/ThOGMfgwpQI/AAAAAAAAAR0/GokeICQ-ZHs/s1600/IMG_0420.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JnljlpuvdKs/ThOGMfgwpQI/AAAAAAAAAR0/GokeICQ-ZHs/s400/IMG_0420.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">&nbsp; </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">22 Weeks...&nbsp;</span> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2tPyVo1quzs/ThOGbxObDVI/AAAAAAAAAR4/5RzZQBzLp1E/s1600/IMG_0435.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2tPyVo1quzs/ThOGbxObDVI/AAAAAAAAAR4/5RzZQBzLp1E/s400/IMG_0435.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>At least I'm not alone in the growing. Look who else has plumped up...<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZdTkVw0TqJ4/ThOJe30UjsI/AAAAAAAAAR8/ANH1WEzK0hk/s1600/IMG_0438.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZdTkVw0TqJ4/ThOJe30UjsI/AAAAAAAAAR8/ANH1WEzK0hk/s400/IMG_0438.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">7 Months old</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;">A whopping 12 pounds!! We love him so much and he has been the absolute best puppy!! Can't wait to see our little boy play with his furry brother.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bcyEQ3zLBwU/ThOJy4UtuTI/AAAAAAAAASA/LfvYyXFr0Gk/s1600/IMG_0440.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bcyEQ3zLBwU/ThOJy4UtuTI/AAAAAAAAASA/LfvYyXFr0Gk/s400/IMG_0440.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><a href="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/51/59F4962EC7438ED56CF19A036A8D8275.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/51/59F4962EC7438ED56CF19A036A8D8275.png" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent; border: 0pt none ! important; cursor: move;" /></a>Taylor Kizziahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03291207529744025316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1699128308738822406.post-88497113797347846282011-06-29T20:12:00.000-04:002011-06-29T20:12:19.999-04:00Pregnancy Update - 22 Weeks<div style="text-align: center;">Yes, I am still alive (I'm sure you've all be wondering)!! There is really no excuse for my lack of posting other than the obvious baking a baby and all! I'm back with a preggo update for all the inquiring minds...</div><br /><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><b>How Far Along: </b>I'm 22 weeks along (about 5 months)</span></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><br /></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><b>Due Date: </b>November 2nd, 2011</span></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><br /></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><b>Size of Baby:</b> Baby Kizziah is about the length of a spaghetti squash. Once again, no idea what the heck a spaghetti squash is, let alone what one looks like. So....google it!! He weights about 1 pound now, and is basically fully developed. Think of him as a miniature newborn at this point. </span></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><br /></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><b>Maternity Clothes: </b>officially wearing the maternity clothing now! I can still actually button the non-basketball belly clothing, but it sorta cuts the bump in half resulting in half beer gut on the bottom and half roll over the top. NOT. CUTE! So, I'm into the full panel coverage these days. I still have plenty of summer dresses that work for this Florida heat, too. </span></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><br /></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><b>Gender: </b>It's a boy!!</span></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><br /></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><b>Movement:</b> He's kicking like crazy!! Especially at night. To me it sorta feels like I'm losing my stomach every time, so it's not always super pleasant while trying to snooze, but nevertheless I am super grateful to have the constant assurance that he is alive and kicking. he he :) </span></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><br /></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><b>Sleep:</b> Sleep is a little bit sporadic these days. I manage to sleep in about 4 hour shifts before having to potty or adjust positions. And officially I have been given the clear to continue to sleep on my belly until it is uncomfortable for me (despite my fears of smooshing the little one into a pancake). Yay!</span></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><br /></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><b>What I miss:</b> normally functioning body temperature. I CAN'T. GET. COOL. </span></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><br /></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><b>Cravings:</b> Milk. Totally uncharacteristic for me. Like really strange. </span></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><br /></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><b>Symptoms: </b>Feeling pretty good these days other than a little bit of pelvic pain because the little guy is sitting so low right now. Headaches are still very present but still respond to Tylenol (miracle preggo drug). The fatigue seems to have reappeared?!? :( I think it may be a result of the sleeping issues though, and not so much the babe. </span></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><br /></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Best moment:</b> Finding out we were having a boy! The look on my husband's face, and the following display of "manliness" was priceless. Can we say, "Testosterone overload!" Not sure what I am getting myself into...</span></span></div><a href="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/51/59F4962EC7438ED56CF19A036A8D8275.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/51/59F4962EC7438ED56CF19A036A8D8275.png" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent; border: 0pt none ! important;" /></a>Taylor Kizziahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03291207529744025316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1699128308738822406.post-23794124246266160152011-06-28T21:47:00.000-04:002011-06-28T21:47:34.241-04:00It's DEFINITELY a Boy!!<div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;Well most of you know by now that our little nugget is officially a "He." I am such a slacker and am just now posting this one day before my next OB appointment, which means it has been a whole month since we knew <em>the </em>news!<br />We couldn't be more thrilled and more shocked at the same time. I had subconsciously convinced myself that there was no possible chance that our little nugget could be of the male gender. You see I am from a family of ALL women...grandmother, mother, aunt, 2 sisters, 2 female cousins (Love you all!!), but somehow in my mind i thought the odds just weren't in our favor/ my body simply could not produce a male.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Boy were we surprised!! After all of the measuring and multiple picture taking by the sonogram technician, we were all waiting in anticipation for the big news. After all we were packed in that little room like sardines, and I am convinced they purposely turned the heat on as I was sweating profusely. (You all know how much I luuuuvvvv to be the center of attention) When she finally showed this shot...<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KDS5w-Q3nzY/TgqCIn7ZmnI/AAAAAAAAARk/UAMf_MxaOkk/s1600/Baby+Kizziah+Week+180001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="474" i$="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KDS5w-Q3nzY/TgqCIn7ZmnI/AAAAAAAAARk/UAMf_MxaOkk/s640/Baby+Kizziah+Week+180001.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: center;">It was a done deal. No hiding the jewels from us today. Despite the obvious,&nbsp; I still asked the tech if she was <i>sure</i> he was a <i>he</i>. She responded with this verbatim comment, "Honey, he's been showing me his junk (such a professional term) the whole time." I couldn't help but laugh and breathe a sigh of relief. I had myself so worked up about whether our nuggett would be healthy, have all it's body parts, even have a heartbeat, that I just felt all my emotions release at one time. No crying though. In my defense however, the only dry eyes in the room belonged to me and the tech (yes that includes my adorable hubby), so there wasn't much room for little 'ol mama here to shed any tears. But I was certainly relieved.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Here are some more pictures of our perfect baby boy. I am happy to report he no longer looks like an alien blob!!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6AjqFFA0RUE/TgqC33Hwx2I/AAAAAAAAARo/q5d-vt3EPqY/s1600/baby+kizziah+18+weeks+-+20001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" i$="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6AjqFFA0RUE/TgqC33Hwx2I/AAAAAAAAARo/q5d-vt3EPqY/s640/baby+kizziah+18+weeks+-+20001.jpg" width="384" /></a></div>Here's his profile shot and a perfect little foot. According to my cousin Peaches, he has my "weird nose."</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-shypKHVJLt4/TgqDzPXIIQI/AAAAAAAAARs/66tY4ZA8his/s1600/baby+kizziah+18+weeks+-+30001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" i$="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-shypKHVJLt4/TgqDzPXIIQI/AAAAAAAAARs/66tY4ZA8his/s640/baby+kizziah+18+weeks+-+30001.jpg" width="352" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />And here are his little legs and arms! We are getting so excited for him to get here!</div><br /><a href="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/51/59F4962EC7438ED56CF19A036A8D8275.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/51/59F4962EC7438ED56CF19A036A8D8275.png" style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; border-bottom: 0pt; border-left: 0pt; border-right: 0pt; border-top: 0pt;" /></a>Taylor Kizziahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03291207529744025316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1699128308738822406.post-59547676531698561722011-05-31T17:52:00.002-04:002011-05-31T17:54:50.541-04:00Pregnancy Update - 18 Weeks<div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;So tomorrow is the BIG day! We found out pink or blue! I am beyond excited and a whole lot nervous. I have a sneaking suspicion that I will be unable to sleep tonight, especially considering the fact that I have been frantically cleaning all day to prepare for the arrival of the estrogen clan (aka. sister, mother, and grandmother) coming to be at the sonogram appointment tomorrow. Needless to say Adam will be waaaaay outnumbered temporarily.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Many people have asked me what my "hunch" is about the sex of our little nugget (as we affectionately refer to him/her as). Not to sound cliche, but I really don't care. I just want a healthy child. I have driven myself crazy wondering if everything is going well, if nugget is growing, if there are any problems. After all it has been 4 weeks since I last heard the heartbeat and without any noticeable movement and the -7 pound weight gain overall, it's a little scary. We are laying it all in God's hands though, trusting that He will give us only what we can handle.&nbsp; Such a faith building time for me and the hubs, but we are full of excitement and anticipation.We would certainly appreciated your prayers as we head to the doctor tomorrow at 4:00 pm. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Oh and P.S. Please don't be offended if you receive a mass text message to share the exciting news. There are so many people dying to know, that I just don't know if I'll have the time to call everyone individually with company in town. Please know that you are both important and loved by us, and we are both so excited to have you as part of Nuggett's life!!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />Update...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>How Far Along: </b>I'm 18 weeks along</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Due Date: </b>November 2nd, 2011</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Size of Baby:</b> Baby Kizziah is about the size of a turnip?? (Anyone else think it's strange that they use food as a point of reference. I'm not even sure what a turnip looks like). Nugget weighs about 5 ounces and is 5 inches long.&nbsp; </span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Maternity Clothes: </b>Still squeezing into my regular clothes! I must admit the jeans are getting a little snugger these days!</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Gender: </b>Tomorrow, Tomorrow!! Yay!!</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Movement:</b> I'm not sure. Sometimes I think I might feel something, and other times not? At this point there is no consistent and noticeable movement, but I'm hoping for that soon. </span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Sleep:</b> Still sleeping well and cherishing the time I have left to sleep on my stomach. </span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>What I miss:</b> Liking food, a predictable bladder, and ADVIL!!</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Cravings:</b> I really don't like food too much these days, but when I am hungry I definitely crave/need meat. </span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Symptoms: </b>Nausea has subsided a little bit, though a bout with the stomach virus last week hasn't helped matters much. I am still having pretty bad head aches, and I never can seem to drink enough fluids. I have regained a little bit of energy...No nap today!! Hooray!! </span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Best moment:</b> Celebrating our first anniversary with absolutely NO pressure about when to have a baby :) ha ha!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />**I'll try to snap an 18 week picture and post tomorrow with the gender news. It proves to be quite complicated to take pictures of your own belly, and Adam never seems to be home when I get the urge to blog**<br /><br /><a href="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/51/59F4962EC7438ED56CF19A036A8D8275.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/51/59F4962EC7438ED56CF19A036A8D8275.png" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent; border: 0pt none ! important;" /></a>Taylor Kizziahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03291207529744025316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1699128308738822406.post-13665176538569792672011-05-13T16:47:00.001-04:002011-05-31T17:55:10.374-04:00The Pregnancy Story...<div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;So I haven't really told too many people just how frustrating and dramatic actually confirming my pregnancy was, so here goes my attempt to re-cap the craziness for you and for my own memory... </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">In the middle of January I went to the doctor for my annual visit, and to just find a doctor here in Jacksonville. We discussed lots of things that I'll spare you the details of, but overall was a standard visit and everything was normal and fine. I absolutely loved the nurse practitioner that I saw and scheduled a follow-up visit to perform an ultrasound of my ovaries to make sure that everything was all good with me considering I had never had one and all of my family history. The plan was to call her and come in right after my "friend" visited in February (sorry boys, if you're reading).&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Anyway, around the beginning of February I started feeling really bad. Super bad headaches, super tired, and just really blah. I remember thinking to myself, "Something is definitely wrong with me. Wonder if I'm getting sick?" After a few days of that, I decided to take a pregnancy test. I still am not quite sure why this was my plan of action, considering it I wasn't even late yet. Woman's intuition? Who knows?&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Well you guessed it...a little pink line. I mean the faintest, smallest, nearly invisible, this can't be real, pink line. It was so faint that I immediately and frantically called my friend Jenn, who just so happens to live in our neighborhood and is a momma expert with 4 of her own, and told her she must come over immediately. I don't guess she questioned me, but could just tell that she needed to come. Within 5 minutes she was there to confirm that it was indeed a positive test. I think I was probably in shock, while she jumped up and down with excitement. I immediatly headed to the winn-dixie to buy every pregnancy test they had in the store. Literally. 4 different packages. And Guess What? All positive.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I had no idea what to think or feel, but there I sat with 8 positive pregnancy tests, including the one that actually shows the words "pregnant." Let me tell you, that one is the scariest. I think I sat numb, crying, smiling, and going through every emotion in between for the next 3 hours until I decided to get up and cook dinner for when Adam got home. I was gonna try to play it cool, to tell him in some non-life-changing way (does that even exist?) at the <i>right moment</i>. That lasted a whole 2.5 minutes when he immediately knew something was wrong with me. I'm smooth like that. He <strike>harassed me</strike> questioned me until I reluctantly just handed him the pregnancy test. He cried, I cried, it was amazing and terrifying all at the same time.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">**Hang in there with me, this is getting wordy, I know**</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I wish I could say it was that easy, but things never seem to be that way for me. I called my OBGYN and scheduled a pregnancy confirmation appointment for the next day. When I arrived, I proceeded to pee on yet another stick, but this time it was NEGATIVE. I couldn't understand this. I had just peed on 8 sticks and they were all positive. Weren't the doctor tests supposed to be even better than the home ones?!?&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">She then sent me for blood work to test my HCG levels, the preggo hormone. We were looking for anything over 5 as a positive test. Two days later my results were 27. A positive test. But not <i>quite</i> positive enough for their liking. I was sent for a second round of blood work, hoping this time that my number would have doubled in 24 hours. My test came back at 86. It doubled, but not <i>quite</i> enough for them?!? Are we seeing a pattern here? 48 hours later I went AGAIN for blood work, and this time my levels were 529. Thank goodness. I could finally breathe and begin the long process of accepting that I was actually pregnant. I had my new OB appointment which lasted around 4 hours, had my first sonogram (the grain of rice picture), and met with the first of 4 doctors who may deliver baby Kizziah. Quit a whirlwind if I do say so myself, but certainly rewarding to hear that little heat beat for the first time. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">For any of you wanna-be-mommies, moral of the story: wait 2 weeks before going for your pregnancy confirmation appointment. Save yourself a few needles poked in the arm, and a whole lot of stress! The doctors were actually amazed that I even knew to take a pregnancy test when I did, and completely shocked that I could have caught it so early, considering I was only 6 weeks pregnant after 4 weeks of testing and scheduling my first appointment 5 weeks out, when you are supposed to be at least 8 weeks. It turned out that it's been great though, cuz I have gotten two sonogram when normally you would only get one.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">And for those of you who have stuck around for this LOOOOONNGG post, here is the oh-so-wonderful belly shot. I am horrified, but Adam says it's adorable, so I'm going with that. ha ha</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7ihBcljXVPY/Tc2Yahl1SbI/AAAAAAAAARY/uknQiDHnYno/s1600/IMG_0400.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7ihBcljXVPY/Tc2Yahl1SbI/AAAAAAAAARY/uknQiDHnYno/s400/IMG_0400.JPG" width="222" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/51/59F4962EC7438ED56CF19A036A8D8275.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/51/59F4962EC7438ED56CF19A036A8D8275.png" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent; border: 0pt none ! important;" /></a>Taylor Kizziahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03291207529744025316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1699128308738822406.post-43876300296067474482011-05-08T14:10:00.000-04:002011-05-08T14:10:53.925-04:00Happy Mother's Day<div style="text-align: center;">Happy Mother's Day Everyone! </div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Considering today is THE day we celebrate mama's around the world, I figured now was as good a time as any to let the cat out of the bag. Are you ready for this? I'm....</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yIz5gfNvfEU/TcbVYJWiuoI/AAAAAAAAARI/hUZXZXA4n_E/s1600/test_clearblue.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="161" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yIz5gfNvfEU/TcbVYJWiuoI/AAAAAAAAARI/hUZXZXA4n_E/s400/test_clearblue.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Yep that's right. There is a proverbial bun in my proverbial oven. I'm baking a baby these days, which certainly explains (or so I hope) my blog neglect. All I have really wanted to do for the past few months is rest my ever-expanding body on the couch from the time I get home from work until bed time. In fact there are many a day when the hubby comes home from work to find me <strike>drooling</strike> deep in slumber. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">For all those wondering, we were certainly not planning this pregnancy. Especially considering the fact that we are fast approaching our FIRST anniversary as a married couple. I was hoping to at least make the year mark, and preferably a few more after that, but here we are, despite GREAT effort, if you know what I mean!! There is really no other explanation than it must be God's timing, and we are trusting in that against all odds. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">So for those of you inquiring family members and friends, I have decided to track the pregnancy via this old blog from time to time. No preggo belly pictures yet, I just can't bear it, but I promise they will be here in the future. So here goes...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>How Far Along: </b>I'm 14 weeks along</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Due Date: </b>November 2nd, 2011</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Size of Baby:</b> Baby Kizziah is about the size of a lemon at this point, and weighs about 1 1/2 ounces.</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Maternity Clothes: </b>None yet, thank God! Living in dresses and skirts for this Florida weather, but can still button all of my pants :) </span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Gender: </b>We don't know yet, but find out June 1st! Can't wait!</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Movement:</b> Can't feel anything yet but aches and pains.</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Sleep:</b> I'm sleeping well at this point apart from the occasional night time nausea. </span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>What I miss:</b> Not feeling like a zombie every afternoon around 1:00 &amp; being able to finish a whole meal!</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Cravings:</b> Chicken nuggets, pickles, cheese Doritos. The picture of health, I Know!</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Symptoms: </b>This first trimester has been rough. Plenty of nausea and morning sickness (even though it is terribly misnamed because it can happen at any time of the day), fatigue that you wouldn't believe, and crippling headaches. We're almost out of the woods, so I'm told though. </span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Best moment:</b> the look on Adam's face when I told him he was going to be a daddy. I must admit, he handles change muuuuuuch better than his "better half" who took until just about a few weeks ago to settle into the whole mommiehood thing. </span></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">The whole story of determining if I was actually pregnant was a little bit crazy, so I'll share that in a later post. But for now, I leave you with our two sonogram pictures. The first was taken at 6 weeks, and looks like nothing more than a grain of rice. The second one was taken at 10 weeks, and looks like an alien blob. I must admit that I think the second picture scared me more than set my mind at ease, but the doctors assure me our "blob" will take human form very soon!!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ca1jY5ezerY/TcbbdZm8VzI/AAAAAAAAARQ/xwGYNOhmJFc/s1600/Baby+Kizziah+6+Weeks0001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="470" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ca1jY5ezerY/TcbbdZm8VzI/AAAAAAAAARQ/xwGYNOhmJFc/s640/Baby+Kizziah+6+Weeks0001.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-O3ySZ0kJdmw/TcbbjNdpEBI/AAAAAAAAARU/BE_S9QtT34w/s1600/Baby+Kizziah+Week+100002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="470" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-O3ySZ0kJdmw/TcbbjNdpEBI/AAAAAAAAARU/BE_S9QtT34w/s640/Baby+Kizziah+Week+100002.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/51/59F4962EC7438ED56CF19A036A8D8275.png" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent; border: 0pt none ! important;" /></a>Taylor Kizziahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03291207529744025316noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1699128308738822406.post-52595868632028828862011-05-07T23:02:00.000-04:002011-05-07T23:02:46.182-04:00Progress<div style="text-align: center;">Do you hear that peeps? We are making progress with pups!! Just look at this...</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-u6JBUVzBbO0/TcSOzYa-U9I/AAAAAAAAARE/hdwGFf6Z0P0/s1600/IMG_0390.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-u6JBUVzBbO0/TcSOzYa-U9I/AAAAAAAAARE/hdwGFf6Z0P0/s400/IMG_0390.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">It's a touch, well almost, but definitely close to being a real touch, as in two animals close enough to touch if they wanted to!! For those of you who have never met my two wonderful pooches, let me just say there is definitely an alpha female in our presence. We call her Macy, or May May for short. With the new introduction of little brother Max, casa Kizziah went from calm Queen Bee palace to chaos in a matter of minutes. Complete with many growls, doggie time-outs (kennel time) and maybe even a scream or two from a nervous mom as I witnessed what was sure to be a doggie death in front of my very eyes.&nbsp; </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I am pleased to announce we are in the GREEN!! Our pups are <strike>getting along</strike> cohabitating quite nicely. They are even, dare I say, "playing"! Not sure you can quite classify what you are about to see as true playing considering out geriatric bulldog hasn't seen this much activity in years, but still it's quite entertaining for the rents to watch!</div><br />**Note of warning: please completely and utterly disregard the extreme ridiculousness of my voice in these videos. Do I really sound like that? Somehow I missed the memo that my camera records sound and am simply not tech-savvy enough to figure out how to mute it. Hence my public humiliation begins!!! **<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><iframe allowFullScreen='true' webkitallowfullscreen='true' mozallowfullscreen='true' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzlVkoQww3e0nR6nyMNTGefzMs1eJTbvkLVaBYfkVcwCusjZlsYVHL74JgsaN0FG4JKFAt87ib6ra2jtvmH1A' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' FRAMEBORDER='0' /><br /><br /><iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/23423393?title=0&amp;byline=0&amp;portrait=0" width="400" height="300" frameborder="0"></iframe><p><a href="http://vimeo.com/23423393">Macy and Max "Playing"</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user7011723">Taylor Kizziah</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/51/59F4962EC7438ED56CF19A036A8D8275.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/51/59F4962EC7438ED56CF19A036A8D8275.png" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent; border: 0pt none ! important;" /></a>Taylor Kizziahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03291207529744025316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1699128308738822406.post-29472132342614505712011-04-11T17:04:00.002-04:002011-04-11T17:15:11.152-04:00Ribbons and Bows...<div style="text-align: center;">After a very chaotic Christmas Holiday (yes, I know it's April, but I'm still recovering), I decided that I needed a way to organize all of my wrapping supplies which are quite abundant during that time of year. I am in charge every year of purchasing all of the grandchildren gifts from the amazing&nbsp; Pegasus which results in approximately 50 gifts, 10 rolls of wrapping paper, a minimum of 3 rolls of tape, multiple pairs of lost scissors, and a very frazzled me. So I came up with this.....</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-B_daDsRSDb0/TaNuUYQjqoI/AAAAAAAAAQ8/7XP7D2zoyAI/s1600/IMG_0348.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-B_daDsRSDb0/TaNuUYQjqoI/AAAAAAAAAQ8/7XP7D2zoyAI/s640/IMG_0348.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Well actually I borrowed the plans from <a href="http://www.centsationalgirl.com/">this website</a>, with only a few modifications. The hubs did all the physical stuff and I painted. I just love having a place to organize all my wrapping stuff. And it sits so nicely in my crafting corner of Adam's office which I <strike>stole</strike> borrowed...</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y1JZVP--3jQ/TaNu173dUHI/AAAAAAAAARA/VGPkYJw4fcs/s1600/IMG_0349.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y1JZVP--3jQ/TaNu173dUHI/AAAAAAAAARA/VGPkYJw4fcs/s640/IMG_0349.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I store all of my fabrics, scrap book supplies, computer stuff, paints, office supplies, my bag full of gift bags (yes, I save them), and any other general crafting stuff! What ya think?</div><br /><a href="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/51/59F4962EC7438ED56CF19A036A8D8275.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/51/59F4962EC7438ED56CF19A036A8D8275.png" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent; border: 0pt none ! important; cursor: move;" /></a>Taylor Kizziahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03291207529744025316noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1699128308738822406.post-19980318124012022592011-03-28T21:14:00.001-04:002011-03-28T21:16:11.779-04:00Meet Max!<div style="text-align: center;">I made it home with our new puppy!! He did fantastic, even on the airplane. Never even made a peep. He already sleeps through the night in his kennel and hasn't had a single accident yet. We feel really lucky to have such a good pup, especially since we got him so unexpectedly. So cue the gratuitous puppy pics. Feel free to skip this post if you're able to resist this adorable face. Meet Max everybody...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2gOUPUlbKw4/TZErIZAWYUI/AAAAAAAAAQk/qin2hZvL9ww/s1600/IMG_0352.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2gOUPUlbKw4/TZErIZAWYUI/AAAAAAAAAQk/qin2hZvL9ww/s640/IMG_0352.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-M4drqKDor-c/TZEsp0DD0lI/AAAAAAAAAQo/SaxnZMJpBQY/s1600/IMG_0354.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-M4drqKDor-c/TZEsp0DD0lI/AAAAAAAAAQo/SaxnZMJpBQY/s640/IMG_0354.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">I Love my chew toy!!!&nbsp;</span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XKDhQTVLrXI/TZEtOrMoMTI/AAAAAAAAAQs/dADUoyl1ht4/s1600/IMG_0351.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XKDhQTVLrXI/TZEtOrMoMTI/AAAAAAAAAQs/dADUoyl1ht4/s640/IMG_0351.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">How can you resist that face?!?!</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ej5RsvkQbqk/TZEuTQ66Q7I/AAAAAAAAAQw/7nzI03CeUys/s1600/IMG00029-20110328-0539.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ej5RsvkQbqk/TZEuTQ66Q7I/AAAAAAAAAQw/7nzI03CeUys/s640/IMG00029-20110328-0539.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">I've already learned that the bed is my favorite snuggling spot!!</span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0bHGoWOMQVE/TZEuj3G72TI/AAAAAAAAAQ0/G_Fy84-X_8M/s1600/IMG00024-20110328-0533.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="476" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0bHGoWOMQVE/TZEuj3G72TI/AAAAAAAAAQ0/G_Fy84-X_8M/s640/IMG00024-20110328-0533.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">I especially like to bury my face under the covers and sleep like a human. </span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HjVV_4nCwIw/TZEutk1rv9I/AAAAAAAAAQ4/xKgExJ3cyZ4/s1600/IMG00030-20110328-1259.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HjVV_4nCwIw/TZEutk1rv9I/AAAAAAAAAQ4/xKgExJ3cyZ4/s640/IMG00030-20110328-1259.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">And here he is playing with his rope. He LOOOOOVES it..<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowFullScreen='true' webkitallowfullscreen='true' mozallowfullscreen='true' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxThujmkS_yvis-Wm0jPt_3HQlEvKusgfzonn4EBp7PFiy0ljTWcqJm3UQhghqwgDji28XjQNxQVoKYfLVlUg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' FRAMEBORDER='0' /></div><br /></div><br /><a href="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/51/59F4962EC7438ED56CF19A036A8D8275.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/51/59F4962EC7438ED56CF19A036A8D8275.png" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent; border: 0pt none ! important;" /></a>Taylor Kizziahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03291207529744025316noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1699128308738822406.post-59500145992147529562011-03-19T18:16:00.001-04:002011-05-31T17:55:57.453-04:00Our New Addition...<div style="text-align: center;">Look who is coming home with us this coming weekend....</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-kU3FSrQ7KNY/TYUoXuo7KUI/AAAAAAAAAQY/NaKc9DfZBw0/s1600/DSC_0012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="272" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-kU3FSrQ7KNY/TYUoXuo7KUI/AAAAAAAAAQY/NaKc9DfZBw0/s640/DSC_0012.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">He's a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel that my grandfather surprised me with. He got her from a friend of his who is a breeder. You can see her website <a href="http://www.cavaliersbycrumley.com/">here</a>. I'm going to pick him up on Friday!! Name still undecided...got any ideas?? Here's one more look...</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-bZyEp4TLgUk/TYUosnPkmgI/AAAAAAAAAQc/1TR-g7j4xXQ/s1600/DSC_0016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="402" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-bZyEp4TLgUk/TYUosnPkmgI/AAAAAAAAAQc/1TR-g7j4xXQ/s640/DSC_0016.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Here's hoping Macy doesn't try to eat him :) It's definitely gonna be an adjustment for our little queeny...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-lMr7QmX5XSw/TYUq9Hp9F5I/AAAAAAAAAQg/FNButZxEjHM/s1600/IMG_0844.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-lMr7QmX5XSw/TYUq9Hp9F5I/AAAAAAAAAQg/FNButZxEjHM/s640/IMG_0844.JPG" width="480" />&nbsp;</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/51/59F4962EC7438ED56CF19A036A8D8275.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/51/59F4962EC7438ED56CF19A036A8D8275.png" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent; border: 0pt none ! important;" /></a>Taylor Kizziahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03291207529744025316noreply@blogger.com1